Chance to win funding to help wildlife

Projects that help boost wildlife in Kettering can have a chance to win some council funding.

Kettering Town Council is running the Love Wildlife competition to help boost biodiversity in the town.

The council is now asking for local organisations and groups to get in touch with their ideas – to be in with a chance of winning the overall £1,000 prize as well as 10 prizes of £200.

The competition was first run last year, with cash being awarded to a range of different groups including;

-Southfield School for Girls to create a school pond on site.

-Isebrook School to enhance woodland and wetland ecosystems.

-Grow Wild to install nesting boxes for birds and bat boxes in trees along the Ise and clean up part of the river.

-Bishop Stopford School to create an outdoor space to promote biodiversity, bring back bees and encourage birds and provide a sensory Garden of Reflection.

-Ise Valley Scout Group to develop a wildlife garden at the Scout Hut, Grantown Way.

-William Street Community Garden to develop their existing community garden.

-Southend Allotment Association to develop nesting bird habitats and create a night garden for moths and bats.

-Kettering Women's Centre to create a horticultural therapy space.

Groups need to send in details of their project and include a description of what they plan to do and where, costings for the project and a deadline for completion.

Charities, CIOs, community and voluntary groups, clubs, not for profit organisations School Parent Teacher Associations, Friends of groups, religious bodies and health charities are all some of the examples of groups who are eligible to apply.

The cash can go towards funding programme or activity costs which are directly relevant to the application, hire or purchase of equipment for meeting project needs and technical assistance. The project must also happen within Kettering town.

Councillors will then judge the submissions according to how well they will enhance habitats for wildlife, promote biodiversity and on the wider benefit to the community.

Kettering Town Council's Climate Change Champion, Cllr Emily Fedorowycz, said: "We are so pleased to be able to run this competition again. It's incredible to hear about all the fantastic ideas people have to improve biodiversity in the town and we cannot wait to get looking at the entries."

The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday 18 February 2024.